#114- Rich McKay on 36 Years in the NFL, Super Bowl, Stadium Building & the World Cup

Rick Horrow sits down with Rich McKay, CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment and one of the most consequential executives in NFL history. McKay shares his journey from Stetson Law graduate to Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM and Super Bowl XXXVII champion, to Falcons GM, to running Arthur Blank's full sports and entertainment empire spanning the Falcons, Atlanta United, TGL, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a philanthropic portfolio that includes youth sports, education, and the Atlanta community. He also covers the World Cup coming to Atlanta, the future of the NFL Competition Committee after 25 years of service, the stadium deal business, and what it really takes to build a championship organization. Then Rick delivers the Opening Drive and Five To Watch, covering Fox's $22 billion Roku acquisition, the US Open at Shinnecock, LIV Golf's uncertain future, Hockey Night in Canada's end of a 74-year run on CBC, Michigan State's landmark Big Ten jersey patch sponsorship deal, and the DOJ approving the Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Rick Horrow is the Sports Professor and one of the nation's leading sports business analysts.🔔 Subscribe for weekly sports business breakdowns. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Introduction: Rick previews the episode and Rich McKay's career 2:30 — Interview begins: Rich McKay, CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment 3:00 — McKay's father John McKay, coaching legacy and the famous "execution" line 6:53 — Career path: Princeton, Stetson Law, federal law clerkship and the road to the NFL 10:23 — Joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992 as team counsel 13:41 — Super Bowl XXXVII: winning with Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers 16:16 — Moving to the Atlanta Falcons (2004) and Super Bowl LI — the 28 to 3 comeback 17:12 — Arthur Blank's culture, leadership and what makes AMB Sports different 18:27 — TGL, Atlanta United, the World Cup, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and youth sports 20:40 — Atlanta's World Cup readiness and what the city is building toward 24:36 — NFL Competition Committee: 25 years shaping the rules of the game 27:40 — The legacy of stadium building in America and the "everything stadium" model 33:00 — Interview wraps 33:25 — Opening Drive (Fox acquires Roku for $22B, US Open at Shinnecock, Hockey Night in Canada ends on CBC after 74 years, LIV Golf's uncertain future, World Cup data and rights) 37:48 — Five To Watch (World Cup knockout stage, Kalshi Supreme Court battle, World Cup DHS funding, Michigan State jersey patch deal, DOJ approves Paramount Skydance acquisition) #AtlantaFalcons #SportBusiness #Atlanta #WorldCup